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AA calls on govt to invest in roads, other transport initiatives rather than the Gautrain expansion

The Gautrain and roads in Centurion

Photo by Creamer Media

Photo by Creamer Media

25th March 2025

By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Deputy Editor Online

     

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Industry organisation the Automobile Association (AA) has called on the government to redirect investments to other initiatives rather than supporting the Gautrain’s proposed R120-billion expansion project.

It posits that Gauteng Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile’s announcement that the Gautrain has lost five-million passengers over the past four years as a sign that the system is financially unsustainable and does not cater to the majority of commuters.

It also queries whether the 125 000 jobs that the expansion is set to create will be sustainable.

The AA has instead called on government to invest in fixing roads, noting that deteriorating infrastructure is a financial burden on motorists and also worsens congestion.

It has also suggested upgrading taxis and buses, highlighting reliable and efficient public transport as essential for the daily lives of most South Africans.

It has also suggested expansion of accessible public transport, positing that the Gautrain is an “elitist” service.

“From the outset, we have cautioned that this expansion is misguided . . . It’s time to refocus our investments on solutions that genuinely matter – transport initiatives that uplift all South Africans, not just a privileged few. The AA calls on authorities to reassess their transport priorities and champion practical, inclusive solutions that benefit the many, rather than the elite minority,” the AA asserts. 

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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